Thanks And Acknowledgements

My thanks go to Kent Libraries and Archives - Folkestone Library and also to the archive of the Folkestone Herald. For articles from the Folkestone Observer, my thanks go to the Kent Messenger Group. Southeastern Gazette articles are from UKPress Online, and Kentish Gazette articles are from the British Newspaper Archive. See links below.

Paul Skelton`s great site for research on pubs in Kent is also linked

Other sites which may be of interest are the Folkestone and District Local History Society, the Kent History Forum, Christine Warren`s fascinating site, Folkestone Then And Now, and Step Short, where I originally found the photo of the bomb-damaged former Langton`s Brewery, links also below.


Welcome

Welcome to Even More Tales From The Tap Room.

Core dates and information on licensees tenure are taken from Martin Easdown and Eamonn Rooney`s two fine books on the pubs of Folkestone, Tales From The Tap Room and More Tales From The Tap Room - unfortunately now out of print. Dates for the tenure of licensees are taken from the very limited editions called Bastions Of The Bar and More Bastions Of The Bar, which were given free to very early purchasers of the books.

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Contrast Note

Whilst the above-mentioned books and supplements represent an enormous amount of research over many years, it is almost inevitable that further research will throw up some differences to the published works. Where these have been found, I have noted them. This is not intended to detract in any way from previous research, but merely to indicate that (possible) new information is available.

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Saturday, 6 September 2014

Royal George 1930s



Folkestone Express 29-11-1930

Local News

On Wednesday the licence of the Royal George Hotel, Beach Street, was transferred from Mr. S. Dowson to Mr. W. Oberman, who a short time ago was the licensee of the Clarendon Hotel.

Folkestone Express 18-7-1931

Monday, July 13th: Before The Mayor, Mr. W. Smith, and Mr. F. Seager.

John Jay, an elderly man, who was stated to be on the tramp, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Harbour Street at 9.35 the previous evening. Prisoner pleaded Guilty.

P.C. Bates said at 9.35 on the previous evening he was on duty in Harbour Street, where he saw the prisoner drunk and making use of obscene language. He told him to go away, and he went a short distance, when he commenced to abuse passers-by. Prisoner then went into the George Hotel (sic), and was promptly ejected. He brought him to the police station and charged him, and he made no reply. Prisoner had been shouting in a loud voice, and had a stick in his hand, which he waved in people`s faces.

Prisoner said he came from Rye, had a drop of drink given him, and got drunk. He used to be a bricklayer`s labourer, and did hay-making now. He did a day and a half last week.

The Chief Constable (Mr. A.S. Beesley) said prisoner had given him no information about himself, and he believed him to tramp from place to place.

The Chairman said if prisoner undertook to leave the town the Magistrates would dismiss the case.

Prisoner agreed to leave the town.

The Clerk (Mr. C. Rootes): You had better go and do some more hay-making.

Folkestone Herald 2-4-1932

Local News

A small fire, confined to the flue, occurred in the bar room at the Royal George Hotel, Beach Street, on Tuesday evening. The Fire Brigade was called by telephone and the fire was extinguished with nominal damage.

Folkestone Herald 27-8-1932

Obituary

We regret to record the death on August 29th, at 29, Mount Pleasant Road, of Mrs. Kirby, the wife of Mr. George Kirby.

Mrs. Kirby, who was 69 years of age, although not much in the public eye of later years, was well known in other days when her husband was the proprietor of the old coaching inn, The Chequers, Seagate Street, and the Royal George Hotel, Beach Street. Mrs. Kirby possessed a kindly heart and this was often well illustrated when in the cold and wintry days she thought of many an empty cupboard in the poorer quarters of the town. Indeed, she did much good by stealth. Much sympathy is accorded to the husband, who during the time of the Mayoralty of the late Alderman Daniel Baker, was a member of the Folkestone Town Council. Some years ago Mr. and Mrs. Kirby left Folkestone for London, but after residing there for a few years came back to Folkestone.

The funeral took place on August 12th at the Cheriton Road Cemetery.

Folkestone Herald 3-11-1934


Local News

The Folkestone Magistrates on Tuesday granted a protection order in connection with the Royal George, the licence of which is being transferred from Mr. W.R. Oberman to Mr. A.G.A. Whelan (sic), of Hanwell.

Folkestone Express 7-1-1939


Local News

A Boxing Day night brawl in the Fish Market had a sequel at Folkestone Police Court on Tuesday when William John Cloke, a fisherman, of 4, Radnor Street, Folkestone, summoned Alfred Waller, of 16, Great Fenchurch Street, Folkestone, for assault.

The magistrates were Mr. L.G.A. Collins, Rear-Admiral L.J. Stephens, Alderman J.W. Stainer, Miss G. Broome-Giles and Mrs. A.M. Saunders.

The plaintiff, giving evidence, said at about 6.55 p.m. on December 26th he went to the Royal George public-house in Beach Street, when the defendant came into the bar. Witness told him that he did not think it was much of a trick that afternoon to hit an old man. The defend­ant started to argue, and witness told him that it was not the place to argue, and suggested they should go outside. When they did so the defendant took off his coat, Witness said “If you are go­ing to fight I will take my teeth out”. While he was taking out his teeth Waller hit him and he fell to the ground with his teeth half in and half out. While he was on the ground Waller kicked him in the mouth. Afterwards he closed with the defendant, who butted him with his head. “In fact it was not a fight,” continued plaintiff. “I thought he was out to kill me the way he was going on”.

Cloke said he fought back in self-defence. At dinner-time Waller had threatened him with what he was going to do that, night. He said “All right, Cloke, I will get you tonight”. As a result of the fight witness had been to the Hospital twice for X-ray examin­ations, once for his right ribs and once for his nose.

In reply to Waller, plaintiff denied in­viting him to go outside and fight. He said he asked Waller to go outside and finish the argument.

William Bridgland, of 34, Wood Avenue, Folkestone, said he was in the Royal George at 6.45 p.m., when the de­fendant came in and called for half a beer, which Cloke paid for. Later Cloke and Waller walked out, and when wit­ness went out he saw the two men fight­ing. Waller had Cloke against the wall of Mr. Milton’s whelk store and butting him with his head. He saw Waller kick Cloke on the leg.

Cross-examined, witness said he heard Waller say “Stand back” so that he could pull his trousers up.

P.C. Langford said at 11.30 p.m. he went to 4, Radnor Street, where he saw Cloke, who was suffering from wounds on his face and head. There were two severe bruises on the back of his head. Witness suspected that Cloke’s nose was fractured, so he took him in the police van to the Hospital.

Giving evidence, Waller said earlier in the day he had been knocked down, and when he went to the public house in the evening Cloke bought him a beer and said “After you have drunk that I will beat you up and down the road again”. They went out into the Fish Market and the fight started. Continuing, Waller said Cloke pulled his jersey off and he asked him to stand back while he pulled his trousers up. Cloke refused, so he kept him off with his foot while he pulled his trousers up as he did not want people to look at him without his trousers.

Questioned by the plaintiff, Waller denied that he kicked him in the face, and said Cloke struck him first, on the side of the face.

The Chairman (Mr. L.G.A. Collins) said both men would be bound over for twelve months, and they would each have to pay 4/- costs.

Folkestone Herald 7-1-1939

Local News

A Boxing Day fight in the Fishmarket had a sequel at Folkestone Police Court on Tuesday when Alfred Waller, of Great Fenchurch Street, Folkestone, was summoned with assaulting William J. Cloke by striking him with his fist and with kicking him in the face. Waller pleaded not guilty. After hearing the evidence the Magistrates bound over both defendant and com­plainant to be of good behaviour,

William J. Cloke, 4, Radnor, Street, Folkestone, a fisherman, said on Box­ing Day, December 26th, he went to the Royal George Hotel,    Beach Street, just before 7 p.m. A little later defendant came into the bar, walked to the counter and asked for a “half of beer”. Complain­ant said to Waller, “I don’t think that was much of a trick you were going to do this afternoon with regard to that old man”. Waller then started arguing, and he (witness) told defendant that that was not the place to argue and; added that he had better go outside. They then went outside. By that time Waller had got his coat off. Com­plainant said, “If you are going to fight I will take my teeth out”. While witness was doing so Waller hit him on the side of the face, and as he went to the ground with his teeth half out and half in his hand; defendant kicked him in the face.
Complainant said they closed for a bit, but when defendant was not kick­ing him he was hitting him. It was not a fight; he thought defendant was out to kill him.

The Clerk (Mr. C. Rootes): Did you strike back?

Complainant: I had to fight back to a certain extent in self-defence.
           
Cloke added that defendant said “All right, Cloke, I will get you to­night”. Witness said he pad been to the hospital for an X-ray of his ribs and nose.

The Clerk: Did you invite him to come out and fight?

Cloke: No, I invited him to go out­side and finish the argument.

William Bridgland, 34, Wood Avenue, Folkestone, said Cloke paid for defend­ant’s “half of beer”, after Waller had come in. A little later witness saw Cloke and Waller fighting. Waller had complain­ant up against a wall and he was but­ting him. He saw Waller kick Cloke in the leg.
           
Defendant:  Where were my hands when I kicked?

Witness: Holding your trousers up.

Waller: I said “Get back” so I could pull my trousers up.

P.C. Langford said at 11.30 p.m. on Boxing Day he saw Cloke his home. He was suffering from wounds on his face and head. There were two bad bruises on the back of his head. Suspecting a fracture of the bridge of his nose, he took Cloke to the hospital.

Waller, giving evidence, said when he went into the Royal George he asked for half a pint of beer. Cloke paid for it, and he said “Thanks Ginger”. They went outside afterwards and the fight started in the Fishmarket. Complainant tore his braces off and he said “Get back” so that he could pull up his trousers. He denied kicking Cloke in the face.

 The Clerk: Who started this fight?

Waller: Mr. Cloke.

The Chairman (Mr. L.G.A. Collins) said the Magistrates had decided to bind both men over to be of good behaviour for 12 months. Each would have to pay 4s. costs.

Folkestone Herald 30-9-1939

Local News

There was sequel at the Folkestone Police Court on Monday to a Saturday night scene outside a Folkestone hotel, when Sapper John Stanford ap­peared before the Magistrates on two charges, the first of committing wilful damage to a plate glass window at the Royal George Hotel, Beach Street, and the second of being drunk and dis­orderly.

In regard to the«first charge Stanford said “I can't remember doing that". He admitted the charge of drunkenness.

Albert G. Rolen, licensee of the Royal George Hotel, Beach Street, said he saw defendant on his premises on Saturday night about 10 o'clock and refused to serve him. When he tried to get defend­ant out he attempted to return. The next minute there was a shower of glass. The glass panel of one of the doors had been broken, the damage amounting to 50s.

Replying to Stanford, witness said ac­cused went out quietly.

P.C. Seamer said at 10.05 p.m. on Sat­urday he was informed that there was a disturbance outside the Royal George Hotel. Witness saw a number of soldiers at­tempting to restrain defendant, but he suddenly broke away and swung his gas mask at the window in the right hand side of the saloon bar. Accused was attempting to break the other window when witness got hold of him. Stanford wanted to fight every­body and he took him into custody.

Giving evidence, Stanford said he heard the shattering of glass but had no recollection of breaking the window. He was not told on Saturday night at the police station that he had been taken in for smashing the window.

An officer gave accused a good char­acter.

The Magistrates fined Stanford 5s. and also ordered him to pay the damage amounting to £2 10s.
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

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